Yes, they are two different fonts, and the bottom number has been stamped with no support behind it. Thus the metal around the numbers is pushed in or dented. Looks like it was done Friday night after a few beers.

That is how they were done. The proper car number is usually the worst one out of the two!

I wonder if the top number was stamped before the panel was fitted?

Any incorrect numbers were meant to be X'ed out, not ground back or hidden. That's not to say it never happened.

_________________
ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

I have acquired another mini, for parts, but maybe fixable later. The problem is it has no body tags, the body number is intact and readable, can I work out the identity from that alone?

It's body number is 18620, if that helps

Is that number on the firewall near the master cylinders?

If it is a roundie it could be an 850 or Deluxe.

I can tell what it is if you post a photo of the engine bay showing the full width of the firewall.

It's an early roundie, magic wand and early type door catches.

It is an 850 for sure.

A Deluxe would have the second number on the radiator shroud instead of being hidden under the ID plate.

Is there anyway to figure out the engine number? or for that matter, anyway a car with no body tag can be registered?

The ID plate was only there to make life easy for the dealers. There is no legal requirement to have one. I would cover up the top number before a rego inspection to avoid confusion though.

It is very hard to find out the original engine number without an ID plate but in this case it is quite easy, I already have a photo of the ID plate!

I would say possibly...if you can prove ownership/origin of the tagless body...and if you write and receive a concession/approval from the local registration authorities to have it re-stamped (good luck with that! )

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

WTF?
What's going on, how did you get a photo of that?
I bought the shell off Richard, Do you know him?

He has a body with numbers, it is just missing the BMC ID plate.

It is magic. Pure magic.

I have no idea who Richard is or where the car comes from. Every time I see a photo of an ID plate on ebay or gumtree or Ausmini I grab a copy of the photo to add to my files to try and make sense of the car numbers.
I have about 1500 photos of ID plates. Somehow your number was one of the ones in my files.

All I know is the info on the plate and the date I added it to the file which was 25/4/12.

Thank you, you are a Wizard.
I'm still hoping the previous owner will find the tag.
Now I have an engine number, rego should hopefully be no problem
Thanks again!

How's that for chance!

Good job Morris!

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.